Scholarship Recipients

The AAMA congratulates the 2018 recipients of the prestigious Maxine Williams Scholarship:

Phu Qui Woodworth graduated in August from Lone Star College–Cyfair in Cypress, Texas. Woodworth feels a natural calling for helping and providing support to people in need. “Whether it’s family, friends, or people whom I’ve just met, I’ve always felt in my heart that I can help them and care for them,” she says.

Woodworth is no stranger to overcoming challenges. She maintained her excellent attendance and academic accomplishments despite overwhelming financial burdens after being affected by Hurricane Harvey last year. “She continues to amaze me each day with a bright smile and a willingness to help others [despite] all her tribulations,” writes her program director.

Nicole Allsup, CMA (AAMA), graduated in August from Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, and earned her CMA (AAMA) credential in the same month. She has proven her dedication to the medical assisting profession, balancing an array of responsibilities on top of her studies. “As a single parent working full time, this has been the most challenging and rewarding experience in my life thus far,” she writes.

While she has accomplished a great deal on her own, she notes that the support she received from the educators in her program proved crucial: “Their belief in my potential and abilities has solidified my determination and dedication to become a CMA (AAMA).”

Latasha Sears is currently studying in the medical assisting program at Trenholm State Community College in Montgomery, Alabama, and plans to graduate next year. She has proven her dedication to pursuing a career as a medical assistant through her academic excellence. “Sears is a great worker who is very passionate about her education. She is a very attentive and dedicated student,” writes an educator.

In addition to her academics, Sears has the compassion and motivation needed to succeed as a medical assistant. “I want to become a medical assistant in order to better myself for my son and for my family,” she says. “I do not want this to be the end of my journey in the medical field; this will only be the beginning for me.”

Evelin Bonilla, CMA (AAMA), graduated in May from Midwest Technical Institute in Moline, Illinois, and earned her CMA (AAMA) credential in April. For Bonilla, the choice to become a medical assistant came from her advocacy for her community. “The community I live in has many Latinos in it, and I am fluent in Spanish,” she notes. “I am confident that I can be of great service in the medical field [by] being bilingual. I care about people and strive to give them my very best every day.”

In addition to being personable to patients, Bonilla understands the demands of the profession require continued learning. “I strive to stay relevant and in the know about regulations and technology as I know the medical field is always changing,” she notes. “I hope to represent myself well as a medical assistant.”

The mission of the American Association of Medical Assistants is to provide the medical assistant professional with education, certification, credential acknowledgment, networking opportunities, scope-of-practice protection, and advocacy for quality patient-centered health care.